[SKOA Presents] Some Kind of Mixtape: January 2012
Welcome to the first of many mixtapes from your blogger buddies at SKOA. The Some Kind of Mixtape series is a new monthly feature that will showcase both tracks from the month prior and tracks from albums that will be coming out this month. All of our mixtapes will be hosted on 8tracks, which is our one of our favorite communities for sharing mixes. Included in the "liner notes" of our mixtapes will be an explanation from each SKOA writer on their song selections for the month.
Since this is our first one, we encourage you to give us feedback on how we did. We hope you enjoy Some Kind of Mixtape: January 2012. We made it just for you!
<3
Kibbe, Shey, & Adrian
††† (Crosses) - "Purien†" (from EP ††)
When ††† (Crosses) came to be the internet blew up for a little while and the tag "witch house" started being thrown all over the project. The second EP, ††, from the pairing of Chino Moreno and Shaun Lopez offers more of the same from EP † with lashings of instrumentation to help mellow you out after the hardest of days and it's all held together by the haunting yet comforting vocal work of Chino. The subtle "woo" towards the climax of the song leads into a retro drum beat and guitar solo that are sure to elate you to a higher place. - Shey
Miike Snow - "Paddling Out" (from their upcoming album Happy To You)
When Swedish trip Miike Snow returned with the track "Devil's Work" back in December, I was immediately hooked and couldn't wait for more. Their second offering, "Paddling Out," delivered yet another tantalizing taste of the band's upcoming sophomore LP, Happy To You, and I was once again sucked into the world of Miike Snow. With catchy piano instrumentation, upbeat vocals combined with a fantastic chorus, and all kinds of synthesizer goodness, "Paddling Out" has made me even more excited for Happy To You. March 27th couldn't get here any sooner! - Adrian
Wazu - "Murder 1" (from WAZU EP)
From their debut self-tiled EP, Australian-American duo Wazu's single, "Murder 1" had me hooked within the first few seconds of the first time I tried them out. The Syndney-born now Brooklyn-based group has managed to develop a sound that, while it clearly draws inspiration from bands like Depeche Mode, Duran Duran, David Bowie, and Talking Heads, is still their very own. It's dark, gritty, and stupidly catchy. In addition to playing out more in the NYC area, Matt and Rizz are readying their upcoming debut album for a May release. If you're around in NYC next Monday (2/6), join me for their set at Piano's. - Kibbe
Breton - "Sandpaper" (from The Blanket Rule EP)
London's Breton create art pop and are known to experiment with visuals during live performances with footage shot by the art-rock group in their bank-turned-base called BrentonLABS. While prepping for their upcoming release, Other People's Problems, which is out via FatCat Records on April 3rd, the band dropped The Blanket Rule EP for free in mid-January that featured "Sandpaper", which was tucked in almost at the end of the five-song EP. With it's sassy synths and pulsating beats, the song has the power to fill many a dancefloor. Consider me more than excited to see them on March 21st at Mercury Lounge. I will be there ready to party my face off. - Kibbe
Memoryhouse - "Walk With Me" (from their upcoming album The Slideshow Effect)
Toronto dream pop duo Memoryhouse have no trouble impressing with each new song they release from their upcoming debut album The Slideshow Effect. With only a month to go before the release of the album, their latest track "Walk With Me" will find itself being played repeatedly until that day. Evan Abeele and Denise Nouvion have crafted yet another kaleidoscope dreamscape that drifts in and out of reality, with instrumentation rising and flowing in an almost trance-like way. The slow build and eventual crescendo makes for a fantastic track that makes the February 28th release date of The Slideshow Effect seem much too far away. - Adrian
Wild Nothing - "Nowhere" (from the Nowhere 7")
Since the release of his debut album Gemini back in 2010, I'd almost completely forgotten about Wild Nothing, but Jack Tatum's one man dream pop project has returned and the wait was well worth it. "Nowhere," which features the vocals of Twin Sister's Andrea Estella, is a fantastic return to form for the artist, who has taken what he did so well on his studio debut, that is a gradual build of instrumentation and vocals, and delivers it in a much more upbeat and summery package. The addition of Estella's vocals, in combination with Tatum's vocals, gives the song a great amount of depth and diversity. Wild Nothing's sophomore LP is expected to drop later this year, and if "Nowhere" is any indication, the album will be a dream pop lovers fantasy. - Adrian
Sleigh Bells - "Comeback Kid" (from their upcoming album Reign of Terror)
With the noisy duo set to return fully with their sophomore LP, Reign of Terror, later this month they let us dip our toes into their mixing pot of goodness in the shape of the first single, "Comeback Kid". The ominous feedback opening leads into a big drum machine riff and distorted guitars before Alexis' vocal chimes in bringing the song to a head. Catchy, dirty with a perfect softened chorus. More please! - Shey
Pulled Apart By Horses - "Wolf Hand" (from Tough Love)
The cheeky chappies from Leeds launched their new album, Tough Love, with the explosive "V.E.N.O.M.", a perfect introduction for what was to come next. "Wolf Hand" shows a growth from the band, a step forward musically whilst lyrically they've kept their tongues firmly placed in their cheeks. From the offset this track is the perfect follow up to the shout along comeback single that was "V.E.N.O.M.". A heavy bass line and guitar riff accompanied by a thumping drum beat is all you need to cleanse the soul. This track, and this album need to be added to everyone's collection - Shey
Teen Daze - "Let's Groove" (from Let's Groove single, grab over here)
On New Years Eve 2012, Vancouver-based Teen Daze dropped "Let's Groove" which started everyone's new year off dancing until their feet couldn't take it anymore. Although the track doesn't really fit in with the current chilled out ethereal sound he's progressed to over the course of his many EPs, I for one am thankful that he took a moment to stop everything and just start dancing. Since then he also dropped his first single, "Brooklyn Sunburn", which is off his upcoming debut album, All Of Us, Together, which is due out on May 22, 2012 via Lefse Records. - Kibbe
